The oldest new truck Toyota makes and why it exists

You know the old saying: if you want to go off-road and get back home, buy a Toyota Land Cruiser. For decades it is known as one of the most reliable and durable vehicles ever. Organizations such as the United Nations depend on Land Cruisers to patrol borders in rough terrain. In rural Africa, Land Cruisers are the most commonly seen vehicles, and the same can be said for Australia.

Of course, newer and modern models have become more complicated, luxurious and expensive than ever. This harms their ability to be used for the above purposes. However, Toyota does not leave people who need a robust 4×4 without a choice; therefore, it has kept the 70 series model in production.

The 70 series is the epitome of simplicity. It’s a vehicle that’s stuck in the 80s, but can be bought brand new in 2023. Besides being super cool, it’s also absolutely necessary, and this article will explain why that’s the case.

Yes, Toyota sells three different land cruisers

Toyota now sells three different Landcruisers. And they are not based on the same platform with different instances. All three are unique. The first Land Cruiser model is the 300 series, the luxury car that is sold in almost every country except America. The 300 series has become extremely expensive, large and luxurious. As such, it has been criticized for straying too far from the itineraries of the Land Cruiser nameplate. This is of course true. The Land Cruiser was never an urban school runner and never should be.

The second Land Cruiser is the all-new J250. In America, it marks the return of the Land Cruiser nameplate after a three-year hiatus. Known to the rest of the world as the little brother of the big 300 series, it carries the Land Cruiser Prado nameplate.

With the J250, Toyota has gone to great lengths to bring the model back to its original roots. It is now much cheaper and simpler. In addition, the design harkens back to many older Land Cruiser models such as the 60 series and the 40 series. Of course, Toyota has also equipped it with a ton of off-road equipment to ensure it lives up to its legendary Land Cruiser heritage.

Finally, we have the 70 Series, the vehicle this article will focus on. Renewed for 2024, the 70 Series is only sold in select countries and is a bare-bones, completely old-school off-roader intended to reliably tackle the toughest terrains. But why on earth does a 30 year old design exist in 2023? Well, there are plenty of reasons for that.

Regions where the 70 series is most popular

• Australia

• Africa

• Middle East

Why the 70 Series is absolutely necessary

Living in a big city can give the false impression that every corner of the earth is paved with easy access to food and supplies. Well, that’s obviously not the case. In Africa, for example, there are areas where people have to travel for days on extremely rough roads to get aid or supplies. This is a good example of one of the most important missions of the 1970s. The 70 is responsible for taking people in such areas to their desired destination, regardless of the terrain.

A 70 series troop carrier (a specific version of the 70 with plenty of seating space in the back) filled with people traveling through the African desert is not an uncommon sight. Furthermore, in many cases these vehicles are rarely maintained simply because there is no place to maintain them. Therefore, they not only have to tackle rough terrain; they also have to deal with neglect.

The second reason why 70 is absolutely necessary is commercial use. In Australia, the 70 is incredibly popular in the mining industry, where cars need to be able to carry heavy loads through difficult terrain. Furthermore, the The United Nations often uses the 70 for off-road ambulance vehicles or troop carriers.

As you can see, problems will arise if Toyota stops producing the seventy people who depend on it. The same applies to the strict emission regulations regarding electric powertrains. If Toyota is forced to make the Land Cruiser electric, how on earth is anyone supposed to cross Africa in an electric car?

What makes the 1970s so tough?

The recipe here is simplicity. First and foremost, the 1970s interior has been stripped of everything superfluous. Base model vehicles have manual windows, and more expensive vehicles have electric units and a small infotainment screen. That’s about it. An automatic transmission was not available until a few months ago. However, with the updated version of the vehicle, we now also get an automatic.

Available engines are a large and underpowered 4.5-liter V-8 turbodiesel or a more efficient 2.8-liter turbodiesel. The big party trick of the 70s, however, is under the skin. Where most new off-roaders use weaker independent suspension, the 70 still uses solid axles. This essentially means that both wheels on each axle are connected via a large piece of steel that houses all the axle components.

This is an old design, but it’s incredibly simple, incredibly strong and more capable off-road thanks to its superior articulation. Up front the 70 features coil springs that provide a more comfortable ride, but at the rear it features a thick leaf spring package that allows the vehicle to carry incredibly heavy loads through rough terrain. All this together results in a vehicle that is robust and capable.

2023 70 Series Land Cruiser Engine Specs

The 70 Series range is incredibly versatile

The 70 doesn’t come in just one form. Toyota offers the 70-series wagon, which uses a regular SUV-style body; the troop carrier (intended to transport many people); and the 79 Series crew cab pickup. This ensures that a 70 series model exists regardless of its intended use. Ambulances for the United Nations are usually based on the pick-up version; the troop carrier version is used for transporting soldiers or civilians across continents, and the wagon is more consumer-oriented.

General information about 70 series Landcruiser

So in simple words: the 70 Series remains one of the most reliable, durable and capable vehicles ever. It also happens to be one of the oldest. Is this a sign that old school is best when it comes to off-roading? Well, it is.